Contributions
1,177 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)The hon. Gentleman is uniquely qualified to speak about his local circumstances—that is why he is sent here every day to serve his constituents—but I do not understand his…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)What the hon. Gentleman describes is the very essence of devolution. I absolutely believe that if local authorities or local people want that reorganisation and unitarisation,…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Tenth sitting)There is an argument for accepting that, but I would ask in return why the Government are giving local councils the opportunity not to use newspapers. Why put that in the Bill…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)The Minister says that there is no gun being held to local authority leaders’ heads. Can she therefore outline, in a clear way, what would happen to a county or district authority…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)Government Members raised their eyebrows when my hon. Friend talked about local referendums. Does he remember that it was a stated policy of the last Labour Government to have…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Tenth sitting)I have to speak to this group of amendments because only one party has consistency when it comes to a “one vote, one election” philosophy: the Conservative party. It is lovely to…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)I hope that the Minister understands our motivation for tabling the amendment. We are not trying to score a political point, but to strengthen the Bill. I am reassured that the…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)Good morning, Dame Siobhain. It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair once again, and to see everybody on the Committee on this very sunny Thursday morning. I know everybody is…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)I beg to move amendment 308, in schedule 23, page 237, line 30, at end insert— “Functions moving from mayors to deputy mayors and strategic authority members 5A (1) Regulations…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)I beg to move amendment 307, in schedule 23, page 237, line 9, at end insert— “()ba a single foundation strategic authority.” This amendment would allow the Secretary of State to…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)I beg to move amendment 299, in clause 53, page 57, line 31, leave out subsection (5). This amendment removes the provision for the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)I was going to stay quiet, but unfortunately for the Minister I was inspired by her speech, so I hate to disappoint the Government Whip by speaking very briefly. The Minister,…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)We are content with that answer, so I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Question proposed, That the schedule be the Twenty Third schedule…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Tenth sitting)I would argue that it is up to us as politicians and candidates in the election to advertise the position and generate excitement among the electorate, so that people vote for…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)I thank the Minister for giving way one more time. She is being very generous, especially as I know that I have spoken for a while. [ Interruption. ] I am delighted to hear that…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)In talking about London not being reorganised, my hon. Friend makes what I might describe as a cynical but correct supposition that that is slightly related to the party political…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)Clause 55 essentially goes to the heart of the Bill. As we argued when we voted in the House against local government reorganisation, the thing in this Bill that most people out…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)This is a difficult one for us. I am not saying that the Minister is trying to bind the hands of future Governments, but it does feel like the Government are trying to make this…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)I agree entirely with the hon. Lady. As I have said before, she has the best interests of Stratford-on-Avon at heart. From her experience in local government, she knows the…23 Oct 2025HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Ninth sitting)I feel very reassured that the Government are following the excellent judgment of the last Conservative Government. On that note, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.…23 Oct 2025